Anvil Test

5 May, 2013

Anvil Test

Indications

Anvil test, sometimes also referred to as Supported Adam’s test is a provocative orthopaedic hip examination often used to determine if there is hip joint pathology, for example, hip arthritis, femoral neck/head fracture and infection.

Procedure

Examiner applies gentle axis compression to the leg after rising it to 30°. Examiner finally strikes the patient’s heel.

Interpretation

Hip pain is a positive sign of this test, indicating possible hip pathology. If local femoral, tibial, fibular or calcaneal pain is elicited, consider a diagnosis of fracture, or strain/sprain in the region corresponding to the pain.